Eric Hamber Award

July 2011

A number of Powerhouse Members attended the awards banquet at Mainstage to witness the presentation of the TBC “Hamber Award” to our own Sarah McLean.

Theatre BC’s most prestigious award is presented on an annual basis, if merited, as a part of the provincial MAINSTAGE Festival awards Ceremony. The Eric Hamber Award is given to a person, group or institution having made an outstanding contribution to community theatre in British Columbia over a long period.

Nominations are reviewed prior to the MAINSTAGE Festival by the Hamber Committee, chaired by Theatre BC’s 1st Vice-President and comprised of three past Hamber Award recipients or representatives on behalf of a group or Institution.

Sarah has had a notable career at the Powerhouse Theatre with the following awards to her credit:

1975– Best Supporting Actress

1986– Best Actress

1988– Directed Play Memory which was chosen to go to the Dominion Drama Festival in Halifax and then subsequently to represent Canada in Monaco. Sarah also won awards for Best Set Design and Best Technical Design ( lights & sound) for the same play.

1994– Best Actress

In addition to all this award winning, Sarah has worked tirelessly to promote and facilitate the growth and success of the Powerhouse Theatre. From the many hours that she has invested in the development of high quality drama at the theatre through personal effort and mentoring others to realize their full potential; to the equally many hours she has spent scrubbing, building, repairing, painting and generally coaxing the building and equipment to serve us for years into the future. She is often the first one in the door for a work party and the last one out.

All the Powerhouse members who have worked with Sarah over the years are immensely proud of her and absolutely delighted that she has been recognized in this very important way.